Take me out to the ball game, take me out to the crowd.  Yeah, you know the rest.  So, we have embarked on the half way point of the 2009 baseball season, which means it’s time for the All-Star break .  3 days of big name baseball.  The All-Star festivities will take place at Busch Stadium in St.Louis.  Also, prior to the All-Star game the futures game and the ever popular home run derby will take place.  I always enjoy the home run derby.  Great television.

The futures game will be played today.  This game will include some of the minor leagues top prospects and surely give you some insight into your next years fantasy draft.  Should be fun to watch.  The futures of game players definitely have something to prove.  I’m positive these futures are ready to put on their big league cleats.

Now, for the home run derby that goes down Monday night.  That’s what I’m talking about.  My favorite event of the All-Star break.  4 AL power hitters and 4 NL power hitters square off.  The NL contestants are all first basemen, Prince Fielder, Albert Pujols, Adrian Gonzalez and Ryan Howard.  The Al contestants consist of Nelson Cruz, Brandon Inge, Carlos Pena and Joe Mauer.  My vote for who will win the home run derby would have to be Pujols.  Pujols has home field advantage, he plays for St. Louis where he’s been playing since 2001.  Pujols leads the majors with 32 homers on the year.  Yeah, these others cats don’t have a freaking chance.  I’m just saying.

I have to give some kudos to last years home run derby star Josh Hamilton, although he lost in the final, he put on an amazing show.  Hamilton hit 28 homers in the 1st round, a home run derby record.  The home run derby took place at Yankee Stadium last year and Hamilton became a fan favorite of the Yankee stadium crowd.  Hamilton plays for the Texas Rangers.  Of course their wasn’t a Yankee competing in the home run derby.  Go figure.  Yeah, I’m a Yankee hater, sorry.  Hamilton also brought along his 71 year old coach from his teenage years playing in Raleigh, N.C. to pitch for him.  Hamilton has struggled with alcohol and drug abuse in the past, and is now clean and sober, which makes this story that much more interesting. Read about it.  Local boy does good.  I’m just saying

The 80th All-Star game happens Tuesday night.  Not a big fan of this game.  It’s stupid.  Wake up Bud Selig and grow a pair.  Just my opinion.  The fans vote for the All-Stars who get to play, which is pretty cool but it should be for the fans, nothing else.  The winner of this game gets home field advantage in the world series.  Changes the whole complex of the game.  Makes no sense to me all at.  All-Star players and managers that might not even see the post season have a say in who gets home field advantage in the world series.  This is supposed to be the All-Star break, break I say.  Are you kidding me.  Watch if you must.  I probably will not be watching this game, well maybe I’ll take a glimpse.  I’ll probably be watching my friends, the Leeves and Project Tritium take care of business on stage at the Blind Tiger.  Most excellent tunes and surely to be much more entertaining.  I’m just saying.

Let’s go Cubbies.  Yeah I know, the loveable losers.  What can I say. I like the underdog.

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